People have asked me, “What should I collect,” or, separately, “What are the best coins to buy now.” People frequently become angry when I decline to answer such questions with simple, encompassing statements. Much depends upon the budget and interests of the individual coin buyer. Each collector should read, learn, examine coins or at least view quality images of coins, and develop a plan before spending an amount that is ‘a lot’ to him or her.

With input from John Albanese and Kris Oyster, recommendations for true beginners are presented here. Back on Sept. 22nd, my column focused upon advice for beginning and intermediate level collectors who are planning to spend from $250 to $1000 per coin. The discussion here is more general and much of it applies to collectors of ALL INCOME LEVELS. Collectors who plan on spending just a few dollars per coins and collectors who will spend thousands per coin will, I hope, find the material here to be helpful.

The current approach is very general and is aimed at true beginners, who are often puzzled as to how to get started. Although I believe that many rare world coins are excellent values, the advice provided pertains to U.S. coins. Realistically, most collectors in the U.S. prefer U.S. coins. Moreover, collecting world coins, colonial coins, or medals is more complicated. There are fewer resources available from which to learn. It is very easy to find a good deal of valuable reading material and pricing information relating to U.S. coins.

I. Decide on a Budget

A coin collecting budget should not be limited to one year; it should be part of a long run plan. A collector should decide how much he or she is willing and able to spend on coins each year, for ten years or more. If a collector is unsure how much he wants to spend, or can spend, then set an annual minimum, with the idea that, if the collector becomes much more interested or his financial situation improves, the maximum may be greater than the minimum. It is important, though, to be realistic about how much a collector can really afford to spend on coins.

A collector should not spend money that may be needed for retirement, health care or family emergencies. While this may sound obvious, it is common for collectors to financially over-extend themselves. A passion for coins may lead to runaway spending.

“Buy the Redbook,” Oyster says, “don’t just look at the prices, read about the history of the coins and the types.” The Redbook is the guide book of U.S. coins that is published annually by Whitman. “First learn the basics,” Oyster adds, “types of coins, dates and mintmarks, think about how coins are made. Be open, don’t make quick decisions about what to collect,” Kris states. “Go out and explore. Don’t worry about spending a lot of money, learn about coins in general.”

John Albanese, too, recommends that each beginner buy a current Redbook. In 1987, Albanese was the sole founder of the NGC. In 2007, he was the founder of the CAC. After acquiring a Redbook, Albanese says, a beginner should “spend some time going through each series to see what types of coins catch your eye and fit your budget.”

In addition, Albanese advises obtaining an older Redbook that dates from the 1970 to 1977 time period. There are specialists in coin related literature, as well as a few vendors on the Internet, who buy and sell used coin reference books.

“If you can also find a Redbook from the 1950’s that would also be helpful.” Albanese is “betting most collectors want value for their hard-earned dollars. Forget the old rule of ‘buy the best grade you can afford’ and replace it,” John declares, with the maxim “buy the best value.” Due to PCGS and NGC pop reports and a registry bubble,” Albanese continues, “there are many coins that sold for less than $5 in the 1970’s that are selling for $5000 and up today. These should be avoided. Washington quarters in MS-67 and MS-68” are cited by John as examples of coins that are not good values “today.”

I (this writer) do not find the Redbook to be quite that useful. Certainly, in the Internet era, the Redbook is not as important as it was in earlier times. There is a great deal of educational information on the Internet. Of course, as Albanese, Oyster and others point out, there is an incredible amount of misleading information and coin related fraud stemming from websites on the Internet. Nonetheless, a beginner who spends a couple of months browsing coin related sites on the Internet, without even spending one cent, may learn a great deal.

In addition to the large number of past articles and columns on CoinWeek.com and CoinLink.com, there is much information on the PCGS and NGC websites. Leading auction companies maintain archives of past auctions with prices realized and quality images. The Heritage, Stack’s + Bowers, Goldbergs and DLRC websites all include a wealth of useful information, though it is often necessary for a beginner to consult an expert to interpret such information. Before spending any money, it is a good idea to look and read.

Though I disagree with some of Scott Travers’ opinions and I do not recommend any kind of short term speculation, I have always liked Travers’ classic book, The Coin Collector’s Survival Manual. The seventh edition was released in November 2010. While a beginner may, initially, find this book to be a little confusing, the text will become clearer over time and much of the information included is very valuable.

After browsing coin related sites on the Internet for a month or more, hopefully including my articles, I suggest finding a copy of Walter Breen’s comprehensive encyclopedia of U.S. coins, which was published in 1988. Yes, this mammoth book contains a significant number of errors and some of the material is outdated. Even so, this book features s a wealth of very valuable information and some excellent discussions of U.S. coin types Unfortunately, Breen’s 1988 encyclopedia does tend to fall apart, literally, and a beginner who spends quite a few dollars for a copy that is barely staying together is probably getting a good deal.

For collectors who are interested in Proof coins, Breen’s “encyclopedia” that is devoted to Proof coins, which was published in 1977, is the only worthwhile book on this topic. Again, it contains errors and other faults. Nonetheless, it is extremely brilliant, and perhaps is Breen’s best work.

As for books on U.S. coins that are found in bookstores, libraries, and flea markets, many of them are written by authors who have little knowledge of coins. An effective author may often seem to be much more knowledgeable about a topic than he is in actuality. When I talk about sports memorabilia, for example, I often sound more knowledgeable than I really am. Maybe no one will discover that I really do not know much about baseball gloves, jerseys and bats, or even about autographed footballs.

Invariably, while searching and learning, beginners will come across other books about coins that are well written by knowledgeable authors. Indeed, beginners often find books by Jeff Ambio and Q. David Bowers to be very helpful.

III. Buy Classic, not Modern, U.S. coins

My belief is that the field of modern coins, like the field of contemporary abstract art, is largely a fad and certainly is not grounded in tradition. The pursuits of modern coins lack cultural rules, and stem, in part, from the whims (which are often profitable for the national government) of decision-makers in the U.S. Treasury Dept. and the U.S. Congress. Last year, I wrote a two part series (click for Part 1, or Part 2) on why 1933/34 is the true dividing line between classic and modern coinage. It is indisputable that U.S. coins minted after 1933 are typically much more common than corresponding coins minted before.

If a beginner is planning to spend an amount that he or she regards as “a lot” on an individual coin, it should be for a coin that is at least somewhat scarce and is not a generic commodity. One recently minted “Silver Eagle” coin looks almost the same as the next and these can be ordered over the Internet in seconds. They lack individuality and there is hardly any tradition of collecting them. Furthermore, U.S. ‘silver eagles’ are not scarce and many coin experts do not regard them as true coins. It makes logical sense for a collectible to be scarce and to have individual characteristics, rather than be something that was recently mass produced. Also, beginners should collect coins that sophisticated experts regard as meaningful; such coins do not have to be expensive.

“For the most part, stay with pre-1934 issues,” John Albanese asserts. “If you buy coins later than 1933, avoid top pop coins and coins [certified as grading] higher than MS-66.” Further, Albanese declares that there “is no need to pay a five or ten times premium for a [certified] MS-70 or Proof-70 grade. ” For more opinions of Albanese and Oyster regarding modern coins, along with those of Jeff Ambio, please see my column on Modern Coins.

Some collectors are under the impression that modern coins are less expensive than classic (pre-1934) coins. While I understand how my auction reviews may give that impression to beginners, the truth is that there are numerous pre-1934 coins that are not expensive. A quick perusal of the value estimates at Numismedia.com, PCGS.com and in the Redbook would indicate that there are many pre-1934 coin issues that can be purchased for small amounts of money. There are naturally toned, scarce pre-1934 coins available for collectors of all income levels. It only takes a few dollars to buy some neat coins.

IV. Buy Certified Coins?

Should beginners buy coins that are PCGS or NGC certified? In regard to modern coins, this question is tricky and is covered in my column on modern coins. As I suggest that everyone buy coins minted before 1934, the discussion in this section relates to pre-1934 U.S. coins. Again, colonial coins, medals, tokens and world coins are all different matters and would require separate discussions.

John Albanese notes that “it is a fact” that “most [U.S.] coins in the $3000 and up range are slabbed by NGC or PCGS. If you are not an expert and you buy $3000 and up coins” that are not PCGS or NGC certified, Albanese says, “you are playing Russian Roulette with your collection and your finances.” In another words, it is very risky to buy U.S. coins priced at over $3000 that are not PCGS or NGC certified.

Regardless of whether a beginner buys inexpensive coins or expensive coins, Albanese stresses the need to “find an honest expert advisor. There are experts who are not honest and there are honest dealers who are not experts.”

Kris Oyster agrees that it is important to find “reputable dealers.” Oyster emphasizes that beginners should “beware of sellers offering deals that sound good, [especially] on the Internet. Coins sell at market levels, not below market.” Additionally, Kris maintains that “a gold coin priced at more than 10% over melt, and all silver or nickel coins over $500, should be PCGS, NGC or ANACS certified.”

In my (this writer’s) view, the dividing line should be $250. If any collector is planning to buy a pre-1934 U.S. coin for more than $250, it should already be PCGS or NGC certified. Yes, I have written about grade-inflation and coin doctoring. No one is suggesting that all PCGS or NGC certified coins are desirable. U.S. coins valued at above $250 that are not PCGS or NGC certified often have serious problems, however, or are being mis-represented by sellers. Indeed, many such coins have been rejected and deemed ungradable by the PCGS or the NGC.

While a coin buyer should take other factors into consideration, not just the opinion from a certification service, PCGS or NGC certified coins are much more desirable and much better values, on average, than coins valued at over $250 that are not certified. Put differently, if a beginning or intermediate collector buys 100 coins that are PCGS or NGC certified and then buys 100 apparently very similar coins, in terms of type, rarity and represented quality, that are not certified, the group of 100 certified coins (on average) will usually be vastly superior, in terms of overall quality and originality in particular, than the corresponding group of non-certified coins.

For those buying coins valued at less than $250, the costs of certification may outweigh the benefits. It is really important to examine many such coins and to ask questions of experts. A beginner should spend only a small percentage of his or her coin collecting budget while attaining a basic understanding of the physical characteristics of coins. With experience and effort, knowledge may be attained and grading skills may be developed. Again, it is important to communicate with experts.

In sum, it is easy to get started collecting U.S. coins. Formulate a budget, read a great deal, think and explore, ask questions of experts, and then buy coins.

Greg Reynolds has carefully examined the vast majority of the greatest U.S. coins and most of the finest classic U.S. type coins. He personally attended sales of the Eliasberg, Pittman, Newman and Gardner Collections, among other landmark events. Greg has also covered major auctions of world coins, including the sale of the Millennia Collection.
In addition to more than two hundred analytical columns for CoinWeek and at least fifty articles for CoinLink, Reynolds has contributed hundreds of articles to Numismatic News newspaper and related publications.
For three years in a row, he has been the winner of the ‘Best All-Around Portfolio’ award of the NLG. Greg has also won NLG awards for individual articles, for a series of articles on the Eric Newman Collection, and for best column published on a web site.
Reynolds is available for private consultations: insightful10{a}gmail.com

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5 Comments on "Getting Started Collecting U.S. Coins: Basics For Beginners"

Hi, I’m so excited that I have found this site because I have been searching for some information about it almost an hour. You helped me a lot indeed and reading this your article I have found much new and useful information about coin collecting. Thanks for sharing this!

My 97 year old father has amassed a large number of coins, but he is not a collector. His stash ranges from a handful of $3 and $2.50 gold coins given by his father, from 1807-1906 to silver dollars and half dollars from 1884 to 1942. There are also dozens of Eisenhower dollars, Franklin and Kennedy half dollars, many quarters and dimes from different decades, and a small handful of quite old nickels and pennies. These were all in circulation. Can you recommend a guide to indicate which should be saved, sold or spent? Thanks, Jane

Hi Jane, Congrats on what sounds to be one heck of a collection that has me quite intrigued. As for a Guide to get an idea of what some of this collection may be worth and to help you to start the process of cataloging it not only for yourself but more so for insurance purposes I would go to your nearest bookstore and grab yourself a copy of the RED BOOK ( A Guide Book Of United States Coins ) Just so you know the prices listed aren’t always accurate but it will give you a pretty dam close estimate of what said coin may be worth but don’t forget that condition of coin can affect the value, any damage, it may have errors or die varieties that may increase the value more than it would typically be worth.. Lots of stuff to learn for sure. From what I read in your post it seems like your father has put together a very nice and possibly very valuable collection of coins from multiple decades as well as denominations and different precious metals within the collection. I don’t happen to have my resources with me at the moment but I will try and guide you the best I can. First I would sort everything out and put all corresponding series & denominations in separate piles ( ie: Capped bust halves .10, .25, .50., Kennedy halves, Barber dimes etc.) After I was finished with that I would then go through them and pull out the coins that for whatever reasons appealed to you, ( ie: history behind the coin, eye appeal, condition, maybe family birthday dates, by metal content, important dates to you, maybe you develop an interest for a certain series. There are so many variables to your question I could literally go on for days about it
I am going to recommend this since you did mention or show interest in maybe selling some of the coins. I personally have a very trustworthy well versed in all aspects of coins, currency and also a GIA certified gemologist and jeweler. He is a huge collector of classic coins but also does modern stuff an anything in between. He has been in business for 35 yrs and been collecting since he was 8. My point with all of this is I TRUST HIM. You need to find help with what your trying to do but more so you need to build a relationship and trust him and if you have any doubts or something doesn’t feel right, go with your gut feeling always because its usually the correct answer. You basically need to build a trusting relationship with someone of vast knowledge of coins that you feel comfortable with, so let me point you in a few directions that may help you.
Last bit of info I will leave you with is there are multiple reputable auction companies out there that are more than willing to help you not only sell your coins but go above and beyond to make sure your coins realize the highest price possible and are listed in the appropriate auctions with detailed descriptions etc etc.. They basically work for you to get you the most for your stuff but of course they do charge a fee for this but sometimes this is the better route to go because they handle everything from grading if needed along with attribution if there are mint errors or die varieties..They do it all for you which even though you may lose alittle due to their fees, it may be an easier route to go for someone I am assuming(and I apologize if it was a bad assumption on my part) doesn’t really have much knowledge when it comes to this type of stuff …Here are a few Reputable auction sites I would recommend to get you on your way if that is what you decide and I forgot to mention I believe most of them will do appraisals depending on the size of collection. 1.) Heritage Auctions 2.) Stacks & Bowers 3.) David Hall Rare Coins 4.) Albanese Rare Coins, Inc. 5.) David Lawrence Rare Coins 6.) Kevin Lipton Rare Coins, Inc. 7.)Scott Travers Rare Coin Galleries, LLC….I hope this helps you on your journey into the wonderful world and hobby of numismatics and coin collecting… Good luck and hope all goes well

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